Rapid Functional and Mechanical Characterisation of Neutrophil-Bacteria Interactions

中性粒细胞是一种白细胞，可以快速识别、摄取和杀死细菌。然而，人们对中性粒细胞第一次与细菌接触时发生的直接物理过程以及这些过程在健康和严重感染期间的变化知之甚少。该项目将通过结合专业知识和同时成像实时细菌摄取、探测中性粒细胞力学的变化以及研究中性粒细胞的化学变化来解决这一差距。这项研究将可视化细菌的摄入，探测中性粒细胞的机械特性，并将这些与健康人和患者中性粒细胞的功能变化联系起来。检测到的异常将被用于新的治疗方法。

Neutrophils are white blood cell that rapidly identify, ingest and kill bacteria However, little is known about the immediate physical processes occurring when neutrophils first meet bacteria, and how these vary in health and during severe infection. This project will address this gap by combining expertise and simultaneously imaging real-time bacterial ingestion, probing changes in neutrophil mechanics, and studying chemical changes in neutrophils. The research will visualise bacterial ingestion, probe the neutrophil's mechanical properties, and link these to functional changes in neutrophils from healthy people and patients. Abnormalities detected will be exploited for new therapeutic treatments.